Friday, July 18, 2014

The FBI doesn't know what to do with Analyst Caycee Scarlet. She's brash, brilliant & brutally relentless when tracking a serial killer. But she also has a temper, problems with authority figures and recognizing the chain of command. Things go sideways for Caycee when she uncovers a lead that saves the Omega Killer's latest victim. Rather than working the system and making nice with her pompous boss, sparks fly and she gets into an altercation with the lead Special Agent on the case, resulting in a transfer to another assignment. Caycee finds herself transferred to an FBI interrogation facility where she assesses the most dangerous of criminals in custody. She struggles to get over the loss of her dream job, but her new boss, handsome Special Agent Gil Graham, may soften the blow. Sparks, of a different variety, fly between the Special Agent and his new Analyst, as they work together to crack the most difficult cases. Just when Caycee's wounds are healing from her expulsion on the Omega Killer team, she is dragged back into the thick of it. Caycee and her new team are front and center, focused on an interview of a bombing suspect, when Omega comes looking for revenge. His attack wounds her team, leaving Caycee with only one option for help-the devastatingly handsome bombing suspect. It will take all of Caycee's wits, and a kiss for luck, to stop Omega and save her co-workers.

Caysee Scarlet has finally landed where she always wanted to reach. In the FBI - recruited as the newest member of the Omega Killer Task Force. What she had not anticipated was the hostility she received from her co-workers upon her arrival. The Omega Killings had taken a toll on the team and the pressure was mounting. Upon her arrival, she finds a vital clue that saves the girl who was marked to be next in the killing. This resulted in two things. Firstly, her egoistic boss could not share the limelight with her and she had to leave the case. Secondly, since she had broken the pattern of the serial killer- she was now the next target.

The timely intervention of her Special Agent Gil lets her continue in the FBI, but on a different case. Romance finds a way in her life as she gives in to the attraction she shares with Gil. They have a strong chemistry between them and soon she realizes that she is falling in love with her boss. But here enters the sexy bomber…..

Caught in action between four men- ex-boss who hates her, a handsome agent who is falling in love with her, a serial killer who has marked her as his next target and the sexy bomber who is definitely bad news for her, Scarlet knows her hands are full of mystery, passion and intrigue.

Ann McGinnis has created a very interesting plot involving mysterious men and a determined woman who challenges their action with equal grit. Scarlet comes out as a strong woman, but faithful or not - that you as a reader have to decide. All I can say at this point of time is that she keeps the readers guessing about her love life.

The editing and proofreading is perfect and the story has many a-ha moments. It is gripping and makes you want to turn the pages. Regarding the characters - very well etched. Even Bomber whose role in Scarlet’s life is fleeting, but the impact is very strong. By fleeting I don’t mean it as a side character, but he does not have much action to influence Scarlet, but he uses only words to keep Scarlet coming back to him. Such powerful and emotional words that it even raise my curiosity as to what actually he was up to. Gill comes across as a man of patience and he really needed that with Scarlet in some points. It was like -‘come on girlie, you are having this good- why do you want to spoil it’ moments for me. But Scarlet is such a strong character, nothing less can be expected of her.

Rating

Reasoning

As I have already mentioned the editing and proofreading was perfect. The only weak point I found in this story is the love life of Scarlet which was neither turbulent nor was her attraction to Bomber justified. Love needs no justification - I get that, but between Gill and Bomber her character of being a strong lady was a bit dented. But then, foolishness is the flip side of love often. :) Ann has portrayed all these emotions wonderfully.

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Meet the Author

Ann McGinnis writes about characters that let their egos and sense of justice rule their lives, while they protect the public from serial killers and unthinkable crimes. Of course, Ann's characters always find a way to blow off steam -- romantically!

As a writer, Ann comes from the world of action/thrillers and screenwriting. She has two scripts currently in development. A third script, about a spunky FBI analyst, is the basis of "Scarlet Revenge" and the main character Caycee Scarlet. It is the first book in a series, with Book 2 “Scarlet Envy” coming out in September 2014.